26 September 2007

After a number of succesful years during the early 60s in New York, where he recorded with, among others, Coltrane and Shepp, Tchicai returned to his native Denmark and formed the group Cadentia Nova Danica. This band made two recordings, of which this was the first. The band was enlarged considerably for the second, Afrodisiaca.

The line up (see back cover in scans) was mainly comprised of Danish musicians, none of whom, to my knowledge, subsequently became known outside Scandinavia (at least in the jazz field, although I gather the second altoist, Vogel, became well-known in progressive rock). The music on the recording, which was done live in a hall in Aarhus, Denmark, has a strong Scandinavian feel to it (not surprisingly). Tchicai plays some nice solos, but it is the ensemble that makes this a terrific recording.

thanks! i never would have known of this record had it not been posted here.

very interesting stuff tchicai was up to once he got back to the old country. not what one might have expected (i.e. nyaq-type stuff). it's got a sound not too far (maybe?) from what bill dixon was doing on *intents & purposes*.

if anyone knows anything about the danish scene at the time i'd love to hear it.

Yes, Vogel and Menzer went on to found Burnin' Red Ivanhoe, who made some memorable albums in the prog vein. Vogel later started Secret Oyster which went in a more fusionist direction. Interestingly, Savage Rose, another leading Danish band at the time, also sported some jazzers in their line-up, Alex Riel, to mention one ...

@frank wellssadly early fmp seems out of bounds as far as jost gebbers is concerned, he basically has everthing that goes up removed through his complaints to both r.share and blogger.even though he has no plans to reissue the stuff!

Boromir, I've cleaned up this recording a bit, and am about to repost it on Call It Anything, which you know (International section), to give it a wider airing. I've given you the credit for the post, as you will see.

I also addressed sotise's comment about the puddingy nature of the sound on the LP. ....

Cheers again for sticking this classic up in cyberspace. It certainly deserves a CD release.